The Militia Myth holds that Canadians believe;
1. Canada would have been lost if not for Canadian Militia
2. That Canadians are taught in school that the war was won by mainly militia
There are giant problems with both of these. Canada would have been lost without the militia. Canadians are not taught the militia myth in school. Also, the majority of active troops in Canada were Canadian up until 1814.
There is even revisionist history happening now as well.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/the-myth-of-1812-how-canadians-see-the-war-we-want-to-see/article553040/?page=all
In this article the author claims that the British and Indians were the ones defending Canada; not really the Canadians. He also says that Tecumseh was defending a British retreat at Moraviatown. Proctor was slowed by Tecumseh's followers and was threatened by Tecumseh. John Norton was the native leader more instrumental in defending Canada.
The natives defending Canada were important, but there were never anywhere near as many natives involved as militia.
Forces in Canada in 1812 to 1813
British
1. 13 Batallions of British regulars
2. 1 regiment of British Cavalry
3. Several Batteries of Guns
Total; 8000 men
Canadian Regulars and Irregulars
1. 5 Battalions of Fencibles (regulars)
2. 8 battalions of Select Embodied Militia (Provincial Regulars)
3. 1 Battalion of Upper Canadian Militia (Provincial Regulars)
4. Several troops of Cavalry (Provincial Regulars)
5. Several volunteer gun batteries, plus artillery "car brigades" (horse artillery)(Provincial Regulars)
6. Provincial Marine (Ferried Supplies)
7. 600 to 800 Voyageurs
8. Indian Department; Around 50 men, often Metis who worked closely with Native Allies
9. Caldwell's Western Rangers; These were Roger's Rangers previously. There were about 100 of these organized into two units. These may have included black and native soldiers.
Total; 10000 men
Canadian Militia
1. 10 000 Upper Canadian Militia (2500 active at a time)
2. 60 000 Lower Canadian Militia (15 000 active at a time)
3. 10 000 Maritime Canadian Militia (2500 active at a time)
Total; 20 000 men active at any given time
Natives Involved in the War
1. Tecumseh's Western Natives; 3000 total (numbers ranged)
2. Mohawks and Other Canadian Natives; 1000 total
Total; 4000 men
The truth is that all of these branches were necessary to defend Canada. British regulars did kill and die more than the other groups, but they could not have been successful without Canadians and natives.
In 1814 around 50 more British line battalions came to North America. After two years however, they were probably unnessary to defend Canada. By the end of the war British forces were occupying parts of Maine, Alabama, New York, and Michigan. They had also burned Washington. They failed to capture New York or New Orleans. The Americans had driven the British from South Western Upper Canada.
Hi Chuck,
ReplyDeleteYou have nicely summarized the militia and Fencible organization. I would add the following organizations; The Provincial Marine, The Indian Department (unsung heroes particularly in the west) and the Voyageurs/Northwest companies.
I re-read passages on the retreat from Amherstburg to Moravian Town in Sugden's "Tecumseh" and can find no evidence of his threatening to turn on the British/Canadian force. However, there was an incident at Fort Malden when Tecumseh threatened to cut the 'wampum belt', which would dissolve the alliance. This could be implied that they might turn on the British but I think not. It was not in the interest of the Confederation to have two enemies. The worse possible scenario was that the Confederation would not assist the British and would wait to see which army would prevail and then seek terms with the victor.
Instead Tecumseh managed to keep most of the warriors in line despite Proctor's incompetence and broken promises. Many times during the retreat he had condemned Proctor as coward for breaking many promises to make a stand at Dolsen's, Chatham and others places until he arrived at Moravian Town. His criticisms and threats to Proctor were justified but there is no evidence that he threatened British and Canadians soldiers.
Also, I think if it was not for persuasion/pleading of LCol Elliot of the Indian Department, all of Tecumseh's warriors would have abandoned Proctor's force.
Again, I really enjoy following your blog. Well done.
Rod
I did miss those units, I will add them.
ReplyDeleteI have read about the threats in several sources. I have posted some of them. Tecumseh had threatened to switch allegiances. The British had already witnessed the natives massacring American wounded at Fort Meigs. They were terrified of their more numerical allies.